Bottom row from left to right: Crystal Troutman, Danielle Groh, Kaitlin McDaniel
Second row from left to right: Marlie Holton, Melissa Denton
Third row from left to right: ShaKayla Coleman, Monique Adams
Back row from left to right: Liz Piazza, Heather Smith, Marcie Merwin
On August 3rd, Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) held a pinning ceremony where the most recent class of Practical Nursing (PN) students was honored. The ceremony commemorates the students’ successful completion of their nursing coursework and clinical rotations.
“We are very proud of the accomplishments of these students. They are well prepared to take the NCLEX-PN licensure examination and begin their careers. They have all worked hard to attain their goals and will make a lasting contribution to healthcare in our community,” commented SRTC Practical Nursing Instructor Debra Smith, RN, BSN.
Guest speaker and SRTC Associate of Science in Nursing Program Chair, Tammy Bryant, challenged and inspired the practical nursing Class of 2017 to remember that they now represent Southern Regional Technical College in a professional capacity, but also a larger, comprehensive community of professional nurses.
The pinning ceremony is a rite passage into the nursing profession, during which each student received a pin and a small lamp. The pin is used to remind students of their purpose to serve the sick and infirmed. The lamp portion of the ceremony serves as a tribute to Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern-day nursing. In the 1800s Nightingale was known as the ‘lady with the lamp’ tending to the sick while carrying a lamp to light the way. At the ceremony, students also recited the Nightingale pledge stating their dedication to upholding the standards of nursing.
The students that received pins were: Monique Adams of Thomasville, ShaKayla Coleman of Thomasville, Melissa Denton of Thomasville, Danielle Groh of Moultrie, Marlie Holton of Camilla, Kaitlin McDaniel of Thomasville, Marcie Merwin of Quitman, Elizabeth Piazza of Thomasville, Heather Smith of Havana, and Krystal Troutman of Camilla.
The Southern Regional Technical College Practical Nursing HESI Exit Exam Award is given to the student who has the highest score on the Exit Exam on each campus. This year’s highest HESI Exit Exam award was presented to Heather Smith.
The Archbold Memorial Hospital Leadership Award is given to the student who presents outstanding leadership qualities not only in the classroom but also in the clinical setting and was presented to Krystal Troutman.
The Most Outstanding Senior Award for the Practical Nursing program is voted on by the PN students and was presented to Melissa Denton. The students are asked to vote of the student who expresses outstanding behaviors in the clinical setting. This individual should stand out as someone who is clinically competent in all areas such as nursing skills, serves as a mentor to peers, strong patient educator and advocate, caring nature, flexible, strong team-minded, maintains 95% attendance in the classroom and clinical setting, have at least a 2.75 GPA and demonstrates a commitment to strong work ethics.
The Practical Nursing program is a 5 semester diploma program designed to prepare students to write the NCLEX-PN for licensure as practical nurses. The program prepares graduates to give competent nursing care. This is done through a selected number of academic and occupational courses providing a variety of techniques and materials necessary to assist the student in acquiring the needed knowledge and skills to give competent care. A variety of clinical experiences is planned so that theory and practice are integrated under the guidance of the clinical instructor. For more information about SRTC’s Practical Nursing Program call 888-205-3449.
SRTC offers over 148 degree, diploma, and certificate programs that are designed to get you quickly into your desired career, and 27 general education courses that transfer to the University System of Georgia institutions and 19 private colleges and universities in Georgia. SRTC has instructional sites located in Ashburn, Cairo, Camilla, Moultrie, Thomasville, Tifton, and Sylvester for the convenience of our students. The College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). SACSCOC is the regional body for the accreditation of degree-granting higher education institutions in the Southern states. For the most up-to-date information on registration, class dates, and program offerings, log on to www.southernregional.edu.